North Coast Tsunami F.C. kicks off 2013 season in U.S. Open Cup qualification round

The Tsunami are back and hoping the wave they built in their innaugural season continues to pick up momentum.

North Coast Tsunami F.C. has been accepted into the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and will use the Northern California State qualification round for U.S. Club Soccer in Northern California to kick off the Tsunami's 2013 season.

The Tsunami will open on the road against the Southern Oregon Fuego in Medford, Oregon March 16 at 7 p.m. as part of the Northern California qualification round.

"We are very excited to get the 2013 season underway," said team owner Alan Exley. "We learned a lot about the game at this level last season and look forward to applying that experience to the 2013 U.S. Open Cup."

Pete Fuller will take the reign as head coach for the Tsunami as the second season gets underway. Fuller, who has also coached as an assistant at Humboldt State, played on the team last in its inaugural year and was selected by Exley to coach the team in 2013.

Exley stepped down from his coaching role to focus on administrative duties, and feels Fuller has what it takes to lead the athletes both on and off the field.

"Pete was captain last season and showed his tremendous knowledge of the game while on the pitch," Exley said.

The Northern California State qualification round competition consists of eight teams from Northern California and Southern Oregon playing in two four-team brackets, with the top two teams from each bracket advancing to the Northern California Championship. The Northern California winner will play the Southern California winner for a place in the first round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

The Tsunami's second and third games in qualification round play will be at their home field, McKinleyville High School. Challengers Capitol United FC from Sacramento will be on the North Coast March 24. The Tsunami conclude qualification round play against the San Ramon Soccer Club five days later.

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the highest level knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the U.S. and is currently open to all United State Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League Soccer. NorCal Premier Soccer will run the State Qualification Round for US Club Soccer in Northern California.

Exley is honored for his team to be given the opportunity to compete at this level. He said, "The Open Cup is our chance to play in the oldest and largest men's Open Competition in the United States it is a huge honor for the club to have the chance to compete in the U.S. Open Cup."